A 24/7 mental health helpline has been launched by Oxford Health. This will give access to specialist mental health care and  take pressure off NHS111 for mental health advice in  Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

With support from Oxfordshire Mind, it will operate during the coronavirus pandemic to provide people with specialist mental health care as NHS111 receives an increasing number of COVID-19 related calls.

The round-the-clock helpline will make it quicker and easier for people in both counties to get the right advice they need for their mental health and wellbeing. It is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Like NHS111, people can call when they need to find out when and where to get help and to access support from mental health professionals.

People who already use mental health services should contact services directly using the numbers in their care plan.

Updates about critical frontline services such as fire and rescue, waste collections, highways and children’s social care:

https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-information-from-the-government/

For information and updates about other services, please go to: https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/?h=1&all=1

Cancer treatment at OUH continues to be provided during the COVID-19 pandemic in line with national advice issued to trusts by NHS England and NHS Improvement(NHSE&I) on 30 March.

Within the Oxford hospitals, multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) of clinicians for all cancer tumour groups have used this guidance in their work.

Cancer surgery within OUH continues to be carried out primarily within the Oncology & Haematology Centre at the Churchill Hospital, a regional centre of excellence, but also at the John Radcliffe Hospital and at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre for specific tumours.

independent hospital capacity at the Manor Hospital is being utilised and OUH is working closely with other providers within the Thames Valley Cancer Alliance to ensure that cancer patients can have their surgery in as timely a way as possible where there is spare capacity to carry this out.

Domestic abuse advice is being shared by OCC and its partners in recognition that COVID-19 related movement restrictions will be having a direct impact on many individuals and families.  Existing abuse can escalate because of stress, anxiety and other challenges, whilst widespread health concerns and job losses may mean some people experience or use domestic abuse for the first time.

How and where to get help and support:

0800 731 0055 (Mon-Fri 10am-7pm). Email das@a2dominion.co.uk

0808 2000 247.

The mobile post office is continuing to call at Dorchester. It is outside the Co-op from 1 pm to 3 pm on Wednesdays. One at a time in the van please!

Thanks to Raj for continuing to provide this service.